Macrodosing Anxiety: Red Wings lose third in a row
Can I relax once please
We’re back! Pay no attention to the standings. Everything is good and normal here. There is nothing to worry about. (I just told you to not look at the standings. What are you doing?)
Alright, fine: pressure’s on. If the Detroit Red Wings want to make a trip to the playoffs for the first time in almost a decade, they need to show they can play with the big boys. The Hurricanes are really trying to make Mikko Rantanen work. With the trade deadline looming on the horizon, this game will serve as a vibe check for both teams moving forward.
Good vibe of the day: The Stadium Series game was a huge hit! It’s the highest-watched regular season game since 2021 and the second highest-attended game in hockey history. (For an additional free good vibe, look at #1 on the list!)
1st period recap
The good:
Moritz Seider looks great. Honestly, you could just glue this bullet point to just about every game recap. His best moment early on came when he broke up a Jordan Staal zone entry.
Dylan Larkin, as usual, is risking his life to give the team any semblance of life. Many such cases.
Marco Kasper’s been on a heater since the start of the Todd McLellan show, and tonight’s no exception. He’s the power kill king out there, going 3 on 1 to get the puck out of the zone.
Alex Lyon’s been fantastic. He’s playing a much more aggressive brand of hockey and it’s paying off for him.
The not so good:
The Ben Chiarot Special at the end of the first period that led to a goal is just a microcosm of all the frustrations that have built up this season. Seider can only do so much here.
Can you imagine what this power play would look like without Vladimir Tarasenko? He’s a great player, but he’s not a good fit with Detroit’s system.
Jordan Martinook must have it out for the Wings. Every time they play him he’s on the scoresheet.
The goal horn is broken. This is a bad omen.
CAR 1 - DET 0
Goals: Jordan Martinook (11) assisted by Jalen Chatfield (9)
2nd period: the good and the not so good
The good:
Saw some great opportunities from Lucas Raymond near the end of the second. Kasper almost scored and managed to hold his own against Rantanen, too!
Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson showed they can be workhorses. Both of them did a 4 1/2 minute shift. Maybe this is a bad thing, actually.
At least Yzerman knows what the team needs? (It’s hard to find positives here, folks!)
The not so good:
Patrick Kane’s controller disconnected, Chiarot got caught (again), and the Canes scored quickly in the second. Lyon lived by the aggressiveness, died by the aggressiveness. So it goes.
I’m not sure if the team forgot about this or not, but you don’t have to just play hockey in the defensive zone!
Why does every hockey player sound like they were lobotomized just before their interview?
Erik Gustaffson:
CAR 2 - DET 0
Goals: Jordan Staal (12) assisted by Jordan Martinook (18) and Shayne Gostisbehrere (28).
I miss Ghost, man.
3rd period: It is apparently illegal for me to relax
The good:
GOAL! ELMER SODERBLOM! Big boy goals should count for two goals. Make me commissioner please.
Hearing the Ric Flair woo warms my heart and if you don’t like it you have no taste.
At least Marco Kasper is put in effort? I dunno man I’m trying my best here.
The Red Wings need to lock down a Jaccob Slavin as soon as they possibly can.
The not so good:
Every time I hear “It’s time for another Red Wings power play”, I feel an immense dread that cannot be described with words.
I’m aging like Matt Damon in Saving Private Ryan watching this team.
CAR 2 - DET 1
Goals: Elmer Soderblom (3) - unassisted
Closing thoughts
That was about 5% fun and 95% anxiety-inducing. The Canes were unbelievable tonight. Jaccob Slavin reminded the Wings why he’s the best stay-at-home defenseman in the league. I wasn’t expecting them to run away with this, but, for crying out loud, show me a sign of life somewhere.
King of the Night: Marco Kasper really impressed me tonight. He was everywhere on the ice, the only guy making life hell for the Canes on each shift.
Honorable Mentions: Mo Seider for his physicality, Alex Lyon for doing his best.
Clown of the Night: Me, for giving up my afternoon to watch this.
Honorable Mention: Ben Chiarot for doing what he does best.
Next game’s on Thursday! Hooray.